I don't know why my Flame Wrasse and Rhomboid Wrasse died

[taithao35]

I had the Flame Wrasse and Rhomboid Wrasse for about 3 weeks. Both were doing really well. No sign of disease at all. They ate like pigs and died for no apparent reason. Tankmates are mystery wrasse, girdle wrasse, rosy scale fairy wrasse, lineatus wrasse, yellow tang, multicolor pygme angel, leopard wrasse, yellow watchman goby, and a pair of firefish. There was no aggression among them. They are a happy family and school together. Do I have a mantis shrimp in my tank by accident or the fishes were cyanide caught? Please help, I don't want my fish to die one by one. I like all of them very much.

[zemuron114]

no way it was cyanide caught,

how hot does your tank run? flame wrasse and rhomboids can't handle high temperatures or large spikes. Also both are notorious for internal parasites and should be treated. Feeding with prazipro will help out a lot.

you may have a renegade crab or shrimp. at night use a red light and go over the tank.

[taithao35]

I feed all my fishes with garlic. The temperature was around 78-81. I do have a chiller. What's prazipro? where can I get them? What's a renegade crap or shrimp look like? thanks a lot. I did have a lot of my fishes died in the past due to internal parasites. I had a trio of Flame wrasse died due to internal parasites.

[taithao35]

Zemuron114

Do you sale saltwater fishes?

[Philwd]

Was their poop stringy? That might have been a sign of internal parasites. I take it you saw no open wounds?? If not that probably rules out a shrimp or crab. Looking back at your original post you never said if you found the bodies. These fish are jumpers and if you didn't find them look behind your tank.

[taithao35]

I am in NY attending Dental School. My mom is taking care of my tank for me. I do have some buddies that drop by once in a while to make sure everything is alright. I don't know if the poop is stringy or not. She did found the bodies in the tank. The tank is cover and there is no opening. I was so excited to get these fishes and can't wait to go during the summer to see them. Too bad.

[Ruskin]

What size tank, the 55 or 40 you have listed in your signature are far to small for all those fish not to mention to small for some of the species you have. Hopefully you have them in something bigger that isnt listed in your signature?

[LargeAngels]

Having the wrasses 3 weeks I am assuming you did not QT them. They could also have had flukes. Which are not seen as they are mostly clear on the bodies of the fish. Only seen if they move onto the eyes. See if some fish start twitching, have frayed fins or marks on the bodies.

As zemuron114 stated no way they were cyanide caught. Nor do I think it was a quality issue. More likely they got something from the wholesaler or LFS.

Prazipro is excellent for treating both internal parasites or flukes. This is why I QT everything.

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12241279#post12241279 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by taithao35
They are a happy family and school together.

I think you could be misinterpreting their behavior. These fish usually wont "school" per se. If theye were all swimming very close to one another, I think this mightve been bullying or aggressive behavior/gesturing. I believe it is a "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer" type of situation. That can stress a fish a lot. You ve a lot of wrasses, including some which probably are the best tankmates of other wrasses (ie- Mystery wrasse). What size tank were they in?

[StuckNOmaha]

Hopefully the tank is not the ones listed because if you can afford those fishes why put them in such small tanks? I have lots of fairy wrasses but in 200+gal tanks and even in those tanks there is aggression among the wrasses in a 55gal with all the tankmates listed sound like its going to be some "WWE" action between the wrasses.

[zemuron114]

a 55 or 40 is big enough for a few fairies. I agree with large angels - flukes or parasites.

also, this is just my opinion and is open for discussion - 81 degrees may be to hot for flame wrasse and rhomboids. I had a harem of flames and 3 rhomboids die to temp spikes - i lost all my deep water fish (helfrich, small goldflake, balteatus etc)

temp has a huge factor in long term success with deeper water fish.

If it wasn't temp related then i would bet it was flukes or parasites.

BTW, having a tank when you are in school isn't the easiest thing. I have been trying it for 5 years and i plan to sell everything off this summer because i dont want to have my father take care of it. Plus its a waste of money when you can't enjoy the things you buy, especially if they die later :(

[taithao35]

LargeAngel:

I didn't QT them. My mom doesn't know much about it either. I knew it was risky and couldn't passed on it. I learned it a hard way. We learn something new everyday. That's why I like this hobby. Thanks alot.

[taithao35]

Ruskin

I have all of those fishes in my 55 gallon tank. I have most of them for almost 1 year. I have the yellow tang for 3 years and the blue tang (5 years) which just died this Christmas. I know I have a lot of fishes for such a small tang. I would upgrade to a bigger tank already if I don't go back to dental school. I tried my best to feed them well.

[taithao35]

StuckNOmaha,

I know my tank is too small to have that many fishes. I just can't resist them. Thanks a lot. Believe me, I'll get a huge tank when I am done with school. I started out with a 10 gallon nano, 20, 29, 40 then 55 gallon. I hope to get a 500 gallon soon :)

[taithao35]

jmaneyapanda,

Thanks for the information. I got it.

[taithao35]

zemuron114,

I was thinking about temporary quitting the hobby while I am in school. However, I couldn't let go of some of the corals and fishes. My buddies promised me that they will keep an eye on them for me. I won't spend anymore money on fishes for a while.

[taithao35]

thanks all of you for the invaluable responses.

[taithao35]

this is my tank 8 months ago
<a href="http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/taithao35/?action=view&current=NewPictures034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/taithao35/NewPictures034.jpg" border="0" alt="Jap. Acan"></a>

[taithao35]

wrong post earlier
this is it
<a href="http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/taithao35/?action=view&current=NewPictures027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/taithao35/NewPictures027.jpg" border="0" alt="Full Tank Shot"></a>

[taithao35]

My tank crashed while I am in NY. I want to move from LPS to SPS direction.

<a href="http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/taithao35/?action=view&current=P1010558.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/taithao35/P1010558.jpg" border="0" alt="New FTS"></a>

[Ruskin]

Though your tank looks nice you are WAY over stocked. It's not the fact that you are trying to feed them enough. It's all the aggression becuase of the confinement. Not to get all "Tang Police" on you but your tank is too small for one tang let alone 2. I wouldnt doubt if the yellow tang was bullying the new additions.
Just becuase they survive doesnt mean they are thriving.

You seem to care about the fish, or you wouldnt have come here to find out what happened. Do them and yourself a favour and stop adding more! That and relocate some of your other fish until you can have that big tank you want. Not having a large tank now doesnt make it right that you go out and stock your 50 like it was a 250.

Again, im not trying to be a jerk, and im not one of those people to say something negative about someone who obviously enjoys the hobby. You are just making things worse for yourself and the inhabitants of your tank by grossly overstocking your tank.

[LargeAngels]

I'm with zemuron114 on the temp. issue also. Deeper water fish also seem to do much better for me kept at cooler temps.

[jmaneyapanda]

Are we saying temp spike, or high temps? I keep a trio of flame wrasses that my temp rarely goes below 80, and they are thriving.

The biggest thing Im having an issue with right now (regarding this post), is that this guys mother has been caring for the tank. No offense to him or her, but any and all observations are out the window. Personally I think that tank was way overstocked with non-compatible fish for a tank that size, and stress and aggression played a significant, if not ultimate role.

I know flukes are real and dangerous, but it seems to be the ailment du jour recently. If anything dies- its flukes. I dont really buy it as readily as others.

[zemuron114]

strictly my opinion - deeper water fish should be kept below 80 degrees long term. Temp spikes are no good for any fish, but will almost certainly kill many deeper water fish.

Hot hot is your tank jmaney? Hawaii water temps are cooler then almost all other collection points so flame wrasse of any other deep water fish should be kept in cooler temps IMO. Naturally they are found in cooler water but it doesn't mean they can't thrive in warmer, but for safety sake i would keep it below 80 (for any tank).

i honestly believe that is why a lot of people lose their fish - temp reasons...

regarding this thread - you seem to be overstocked as previously suggested. I would personally remove the yellow as he is probably the bully of the tank (correct me if im wrong) that hippo looks cramped as well. Maybe try smaller fish and remove the tangs?

[taithao35]

Once again, thanks a lot for all the responses and constructive criticisms.

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12258734#post12258734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
strictly my opinion - deeper water fish should be kept below 80 degrees long term. Temp spikes are no good for any fish, but will almost certainly kill many deeper water fish.

Hot hot is your tank jmaney? Hawaii water temps are cooler then almost all other collection points so flame wrasse of any other deep water fish should be kept in cooler temps IMO. Naturally they are found in cooler water but it doesn't mean they can't thrive in warmer, but for safety sake i would keep it below 80 (for any tank).

i honestly believe that is why a lot of people lose their fish - temp reasons...

regarding this thread - you seem to be overstocked as previously suggested. I would personally remove the yellow as he is probably the bully of the tank (correct me if im wrong) that hippo looks cramped as well. Maybe try smaller fish and remove the tangs?

My tank is rarely at 82 and 78. It usually hovers between 79 and 81. I have had my trio for going on 9 months, and they have only grwon and become more rambunctious. I am certainly NOT claiming long term success, but simply that they are thriving at 80ish. That being said, I agree wholeheartedly taht coller water fish will do BETTER at cooler temps, but I dont think this emans they cant do very well when warmer, as you mentioned.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/123758flamewrassefemalecopy_1_.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/123758flamewrassemale_1_.jpg

[zemuron114]

i agree as well, but it changes their metabolism, so if you feed a lot they will be fine, i think.

you have a nice trio. Does your tank ever spike? I had a huge spike in my 180 gallon and lost 3 rhomboids, 5 flame wrasse, 3 helfrich, 2 balteatus, 2 mccoskers, and juvi goldflake. I was P!ssed. but it went to 78 from 86 in a few hours so it was bound to kill the fish. Not to mentioned it hovered around 85 for a couple weeks. I am going to get a chiller before adding any other fish of any kind!!

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12262303#post12262303 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
i agree as well, but it changes their metabolism, so if you feed a lot they will be fine, i think.

you have a nice trio. Does your tank ever spike? I had a huge spike in my 180 gallon and lost 3 rhomboids, 5 flame wrasse, 3 helfrich, 2 balteatus, 2 mccoskers, and juvi goldflake. I was P!ssed. but it went to 78 from 86 in a few hours so it was bound to kill the fish. Not to mentioned it hovered around 85 for a couple weeks. I am going to get a chiller before adding any other fish of any kind!!

Arguably a temp spike like that would kill a lot of fish- deeper water or not. I would imagine that oxygen levels would get very low without excessive attention to surplus oxygenation.

BTW- I feed the heck out of my tank.

[jasony816]

didnt mean to bring up an old thread but since there are some flame wrasse experts here I have a question. I have a trio however the male wrasse has like a film/mucus near the end of the take and dorsal fins, almost looking like the scales are coming off, but not really, could it be fungus/baterial/parasites? Its eating eating and swimming and not breathing heavily. I dont know what is wrong, or what to do about it, I already have a QT setting up and should be ready soon, however I am not sure what to do yet and dont want to strees out the fish if it doesnt need to be transferred to QT thanks.